LETTER: Sequestration puts civilian jobs at risk

The civilian workers at Fort Campbell do great work every day. They are the nurses, doctors, teachers, electricians, engineers, mechanics, analysts, instructors, air traffic controllers, child care providers, security personnel, transporters and other workers committed to supporting our military. These men and women work to keep our nation safe and secure, and to provide our military with the best foundation to do their job.

These reasons, and dozens of others, are why it is necessary to stop the cuts to the civilian workforce as a consequence of sequestration. If the current plan holds, 30 percent of the civilian workforce will be cut. These cuts are being applied in an across-the-board, salami slice fashion without regard to the impact they would have on the military mission and our local community.

This is why we need our community to join together and tell Congress: Stop these cuts from going forward at Fort Campbell.

Congress needs to overturn sequestration and provide our Army with the support it needs to carry out its important work – as well as the money to keep its hard working and highly valuable civilian staff.

Our military would not function as effectively without the civilian men and women working on post supporting their work.